If you can walk away from an accident - whether it was a car crash or other incident - it’s possible to "think" you're not injured. Medical science has proven that over 50% of injuries are not easily seen and some are not immediately felt. Some common reasons a person immediately thinks they are okay after an accident is due to a rush of adrenaline, fear, and - sometimes - anger. It will take hours, if not days later, for that person to start feeling the pain as a result of the accident.

If you refuse or do not get medical attention at the scene of the accident, you may not know about internal injuries you suffered that could cause you great pain in the days to come. Even if it has been a week or two, do not wait any longer to get medically examined. You never know if something major is disguising itself as something that feels minor.

Untreated Whiplash

Whiplash is one of the most common injuries that can occur after a car accident, blow to the head, and falling. The sudden jerking of the head forward and then backward can quickly injure the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in and around the neck. This results in causing neck pain, stiffness, and tightness.

Untreated whiplash can lead to chronic pain and headaches, caused by the damaged inner workings of the neck. This chronic pain is something that can live with you for the remainder of your lifetime.

A person may not realize they have whiplash until symptoms begin showing up hours later. By getting proper chiropractic treatment, massage and physical therapy, you can strengthen the area around the neck and increase mobility.

Untreated Back Injuries

Back injuries are all too common after a car accident. Unless you are properly examined by a chiropractor, and/or get x-rays, you will not really know how much damage was caused. A proper examination can help diagnose back sprains and strains, herniated discs, and other spinal injuries. This then allows the chiropractor to assess your injuries and start a treatment plan for your recovery.

Failing to get treatment for back injuries can lead to chronic back pain, bad posture, muscle spasms, and - in some cases - the increased risk of pinched nerves.

Untreated Brain Trauma

Brain injuries can range from mild to severe. The signs of a brain injury are not always apparent, and it’s a common misconception that a person must lose consciousness if they had a concussion. Although mild brain injuries can heal within a few weeks, if left untreated, it can lead to severe problems down the road.

Mood changes, irritability, insomnia, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, and depression may all stem from an untreated brain injury.

Why You Should Always Get Treatment

After any type of accident, your health should be your number one priority, even if you think you’re “fine.” Treatment will help speed up the recovery process and give you the tools needed to make any necessary lifestyle changes. It's important you heal properly and lesson the pain and discomfort from these injuries. Depending on your injuries, you can anticipate seeing your chiropractor 3-5 days a week at first. Over the course of several weeks, that number will begin to drop down.

It is very important to have your car accident injuries and treatments documented. You may be unable to obtain the insurance benefits that will cover your medical expenses if you fail to document your injuries. If you're the recipient of a car accident, speaking with an attorney is a great way to understand all of your options.

If you have been in an accident, don't wait any longer! Contact an Accident Care Chiropractic & Massage clinic near you and get the treatment and care you deserve.

Chiropractors know that adjustments are good for your general health. Millions of satisfied patients cannot be wrong. But what do chiropractors know that the rest of us do not?

They know the nervous system is the one system in the body that directly affects every other system. This is because nerves conduct sensory information from every part of the body and then delivers this information to the brain. Once there, the brain analyzes the information to determine what the body needs to maintain a healthy state. So the health of this system is paramount to the good health of the rest of the body.

Chiropractors recognize that misalignment in the spine can interfere with proper nervous system function. More specifically, chiropractors study the effects of vertebral subluxations – conditions of the spine where alignment and/or movement patterns of the vertebrae are abnormal. When this occurs, imbalances cause irritation and inflammation. In turn, this can cause interference with information that is transmitted along nerves and spinal cord. Chiropractors are the only health care professionals specifically trained to locate and correct spinal subluxations.

This is the principal reason why chiropractors should be called wellness doctors. Every time a chiropractor corrects a vertebral subluxation, the positive effects are felt in multiple systems simultaneously. Chiropractic Care Promotes Overall Wellness

Where’s the Proof?

For decades, scientific research has focused on the use of chiropractic adjustments for low back pain, neck pain and headaches.(1-3) In fact, there is now clear evidence to recommend chiropractors as the go-to professionals for spinal pain syndromes. However, with the rising popularity of wellness-based philosophies focused on non-traditional approaches to health, chiropractors are being asked to justify their role.

The traditional medical model of symptom-based healthcare is rapidly waning. We no longer feel we have to be sick to call upon a health professional for advice. Instead, we are focusing more on the detrimental effects stress has on our bodies, and the therapies that address the mind-body connection are getting much more attention.

In a recent report from the Center for Disease Control, the four most popular forms of alternative and complementary medicine were listed as: natural products, deep breathing, meditation and chiropractic!(4)

People are casting their votes with their healthcare dollars and chiropractors are taking a leadership role in this new wellness model. As a profession whose core philosophy is about the optimization of the brain-body communication network, chiropractic can be viewed as a therapy with an emphasis on whole body health and wellness

Research is catching up to what chiropractors have known for years. In a recent study that reviewed all the available research to date, investigators found that “chiropractic adjustments, often for the purpose of correcting vertebral subluxation, confer measurable health benefits to people regardless of the presence or absence of symptoms.”(5) More people are seeking what chiropractic offers: optimization of health and an improved quality of life, with a spine free of vertebral subluxations!

In a multi-nation study involving hundreds of chiropractors and thousands of chiropractic patients, researchers sought to measure the incidence of non-musculoskeletal responses to chiropractic therapy. What they found was that a number of patients experienced systemic benefits from their chiropractic treatments whether or not they mentioned any symptoms in these areas at the onset of care. The most common benefits reported in this study were breathing (27%), digestion (26%) and circulation (21%).(6)

In yet another ground-breaking study, chiropractic adjustments were shown to actually decrease blood pressure, one of the leading causes for preventable death in North America (in relation to the incidence of heart-attacks and strokes). The study stood up to medical scrutiny and showed unequivocally that vertebral subluxations – of the upper cervical vertebra in this case – can be detrimental to the health of the individual, and not just a pain in the neck.(7)

From these research results, chiropractors clearly have a greater role in your health and wellness than just treating sore backs. Chiropractic care should be considered an invaluable tool for you to not only help you feel well, but to also help you be well.

References and sources:

1. Dagenais S, Gay RE, Tricco AC, Freeman MD & Mayer JM. NASS Contemporary Concepts in Spine Care: Spinal Manipulation Therapy for Acute Low Back Pain. Spine Journal 2010 (Oct.); 10(10): 918-940.

2. Bronfort G, Assendelft WJJ, Evans R, Haas M & Bouter L. Efficacy of Spinal Manipulation for Chronic Headache: A Systematic Review. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2001 (Sept.); 24(7): 457-466

3. Thiel HW & Bolton JE. Predic- tors For Immediate and Global Responses to Chiropractic Manipulation of the Cervical Spine. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2008 (Mar.); 31(3): 172-183.

4. Barnes PM, Bloom B, Nahin R. Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among Adults and Children: United States, 2007. CDC National Health Statistics Report #12. December 10, 2008.

5. Hannon SM. Objective Physiologic Changes and Associated Health Benefits of Chiro- practic Adjustments in Asymptom- atic Subjects: A Review of the Literature. J Vertebral Subluxation Research 2004 (Apr.): 1-9.

6. Leboeuf-Yde C, Pedersen EN, Bryner P, Cosman D, Hayek R, Meeker WC, Shaik J, Terrazas O, Tucker J & Walsh M. Self-reported Nonmusculoskeletal Responses to Chiropractic Intervention: A Multi- nation Survey. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2005 (Jun.); 28(5): 294-302.

7. Bakris G, Dickholtz M, Meyer PM, Kravitz G, Avery E, Miller M, Brown J, Woodfield C & Bell B. Atlas Vertebra Realignment and Achievement of Arterial Pressure Goal in Hypertensive Patients: A Pilot Study. Journal of Human Hypertension 2007 (May); 21(5): 347-352.

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